The South Dakota women’s swimming and diving team upset North Dakota, 123-120, in dual action at the DakotaDome on Saturday afternoon. The Coyotes’ victory marks the first time in school history that the USD women’s team has defeated UND, the defending North Central Conference champions. The UND men’s team recorded a 166-67 dual win. Overall, the USD women’s team had seven individual or relay victories against UND. The Coyote men’s team had 12 individual or relay top-three finishes against UND.

Overall, the USD swimming and diving team set two records, including the women’s 400 Medley Relay (4:32.36) with the team of Megan Gordon (Grand Rapids, Minn.), Amelia Payne (Des Moines, Iowa), Erin Wagoner (Newcastle, Wyo.) and Stacy Bjorlie (Austin, Minn.). Gordon also set the new school-pool record in the 200 Backstroke (2:24.89)

The women’s team was led in the pool by Stacy Bjorlie and Megan Gordon. Bjorlie had two individual wins in the 50 Free (27.72) and 100 Free (1:02.11). Both Bjorlie and Gordon were members of the winning 400 medley relay (4:32.36). Gordon achieved two NCAA provisional cuts in the lead-off backstroke leg of the 400 Medley Relay (1:06.29) and the 200 Backstroke (2:24.89). Mary Holman (Bloomington, Minn.) had one individual win in the 800 Free (9:35.26) as Sara Holman (Bloomington, Minn.) finished second (9:36.72).

On the boards, Emilie Kluth (Columbus, Neb.) led the Coyotes to two victories in both one-meter (252.75) and three-meter diving (245.45). Kluth’s performance on the one-meter board surpassed the qualifying standard for the NCAA DII Swimming and Diving national meet. The Coyotes were also led on the board by two second-place finishes from Jill Smolczyk (Omaha, Neb.) in the one-meter competition (214.95) and Kacie Miller (Denver, Colo.) in the three-meter competition (231.90).

The men’s team was led by Josh Fleming (Lincoln, Neb.), freshmen Ray Wieser (Vacaville, Calif.) and Mike Olson (Lincoln, Neb.). Fleming claimed the men’s only event win in the 200 Breaststroke (2:35.32). He also finished third in the 400 IM (5:06.78). Wieser finished second in both the 400 IM (5:01.04) and the 200 Breaststroke (2:40.33). Olson also contributed with a set of third-place finishes in the 50 Free (26.21) and 100 Free (58.63). The men’s 400 Medley Relay (4:24.34) team of Brian Viger (Fridley, Minn.), Wieser, Jody Lutz (Ardmore, Okla.) and Ryan Fleming (Lincoln, Neb.); as well as the 800 Free Relay (9:09.02) of Bridger Miller (Gillette, Wyo.), Jared Bronson (St. Louis, Miss.), Karson Kampfe (Kearney, Neb.) and Josh Fleming both recorded second-place finishes.

The Coyotes return to action on Thursday, October 25 at 7 p.m. in a conference meet against Minnesota State-Mankato at the DakotaDome